Profar to open Spring Training with limits

By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com

ARLINGTON -- Rangers second baseman Jurickson Profar is dealing with tendinitis in his right shoulder and will not be at full strength when Spring Training opens next week in Arizona. Pitchers are reporting Sunday, with position players arriving next Wednesday.

Profar will be able to do everything except throw. General manager Jon Daniels said Profar would most likely need at least a week before he could start a throwing program. He will probably start Cactus League play needing to get his at-bats at designated hitter, but the Rangers expect him to have plenty of time to prepare for the regular season.

"He'll still be able to participate in [pitchers fielding practice] and team fundamentals like bunt defense, all the things he needs to do to get ready," Daniels said. "It's just the throwing; he'll be about a week behind."

Profar enters camp as the leading candidate to be the Rangers' starting second baseman. But he still has to earn the job. The Rangers have options, including veterans Adam Rosales, Brent Lillibridge and Josh Wilson, and rookies Rougned Odor and Luis Sardinas.

"We have not brought anybody who is guaranteed to be on the club, but we've brought in a number of guys externally and internally," Daniels said, adding that Profar "has to put his head down and show what he can do. Hopefully he can do that, but he has to earn it."

Rangers decline to announce Hanson deal

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have not yet announced the signing of pitcher Tommy Hanson, and general manager Jon Daniels declined to discuss it Wednesday in a conference call with reporters.

The Rangers agreed to a contract with Hanson worth $2 million plus incentives, and on Tuesday he had a physical. But it appears the Rangers have agreed to give him a Major League contract, and they do not have room on the 40-man roster unless they designate a player for assignment.

The Rangers will be able to put Derek Holland on the 60-day disabled list later this week. When they do that, they will most likely announce the Hanson signing. Holland is recovering from left knee surgery and is expected to be sidelined until mid-season.

Daniels expects Cruz to sign elsewhere

ARLINGTON -- General manager Jon Daniels said he had remained in contact with free-agent outfielder Nelson Cruz's agent, Adam Katz. But despite occasional talks with Katz and the need for a right-handed bat, Daniels said the Rangers were not expecting to sign Cruz.

"We check in periodically, but nothing has changed," Daniels said. "My expectation is he will sign elsewhere."

The Rangers had been looking for a right-handed bat this offseason to possibly pair with Mitch Moreland at designated hitter. But the Rangers have nothing going on in the free-agent market, and it appears Michael Choice could get a chance to win that spot as a fourth outfielder and part-time DH.

Asked about the free-agent market, Daniels said, "We're not talking to anybody."

Worth noting

• Minor league reliever Ben Rowen is dealing with biceps tendinitis and will be behind other pitchers Monday when Spring Training workouts begin.

• Daniels said Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson had an open invitation to come to Major League Spring Training but that nothing had been finalized. The Rangers took Wilson in the Rule 5 Draft in December. He was a Minor League infielder for the Rockies from 2010-11.

• Daniels said he was hopeful of avoiding an arbitration hearing with first baseman Moreland. The hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday, and Daniels said: "We're so close, I would like to think we would avoid it. But until you have a deal, you have to be prepared for anything."

• Holland, who had surgery on his left knee in January, is still on crutches and will not report Sunday with the rest of the pitchers. He is expected to report later in February once he loses the crutches.